Philippine Hotels, Travel, Vacation, Real Estate and Maps, News

By Joel D. Pinaroc

Balay sa Taal in Tagaytay City, with its breathtaking vista of the Taal Volcano and Taal Lake offers individuals and groups the chance to rejuvenate, recharge, and get away from the rat race in nearby Metro Manila.

A little more than two hours away from Manila, Balay sa Taal is easily accessible via any of popular routes going to Tagaytay. Travelers and weekenders will be pleasantly surprised to find out that Balay sa Taal is merely a stone’s throw away from the bustling Tagaytay ‘rotonda.’

This writer, and a small group of journalists covering the information technology beat, were at first apprehensive about going to Balay sa Taal, knowing that Tagaytay has always been a tourist destination and that most of the places have already been visited and that very few, if there any, wonders are left in this popular highland getaway.

Unexpectedly though, Balay sa Taal proved to be one of Tagaytay’s best kept secret, and its proximity to the ‘rotonda’ and a roadside cyber café made it an even more attractive destination for weekend warriors, still wanting to check that email even on a weekend.

Balay sa Taal, which is actually a nature-focused land development project, features houses that are made to take full advantage of the stunning mountain-side view of Taal Lake.

From afar, it is hardly noticeable that Balay Taal is development project. The lush green foliage of trees, and the scattered houses, gives one the impression that the place is a far-off, isolated and a very exclusive hideaway for the rich and famous. One famous family who calls Balay sa Taal home is the Concepcion family, who are seen regularly taking the Manila to Tagaytay route to get to their favorite weekend getaway.

However, the prominent business clan, thinking of the place’s potential, thought of offering individuals and groups the chance to experience Balay sa Taal and eventually opened the place for weekenders and corporate gatherings. And so Balay sa Taal opened its doors for anybody willing to pay for the privilege of staying for a night or two in a townhouse with a view.

A Breathtaking Vista

A long winding road greeted us after entering Balay sa Taal’s imposing gates. Here and there, we immediately noticed plots of lands, which we soon found out are made to exclusively accommodate town houses.

At first, nothing special seems to wait for us at Balay sa Taal, probably because most of the journalists going to Balay sa Taal were literally clueless as to what the place has to offer. Besides, almost everybody knows what Tagaytay has to offer.

After a few minutes of traversing Balay sa Taal’s winding roads, we were told that we will be staying in two town houses, specially opened by its owners for corporate events and small group visits. Everybody was pleasantly surprised to find out that each of the townhouses offers an unobstructed view of Taal Lake and nearby forests.

It was a scene from some fairy tale to find fishing villages dotting the lake and fish pens making abstract geographical figures scattered all across the lake.

While rolling fog slowly engulfed our views, we nevertheless caught a glimpse of Taal Volcano and the world-famous lake within a lake, bathed in orange, before gradually disappearing from view along with the setting sun. Balay sa Taal gives emphasis on nature, and that each of the real estate allocations are to be made and designed with nature in mind.

From our vantage point, we see several townhouses nestled amid a garden of green. One will not be faulted to say that the townhouses seemed to drown in a sea of green canopy.

Our own townhouse was not an exception. The place is surrounded by a garden of blooming pink shrubs, giving it an even more natural look.

Staying at Balay sa Taal, Tagaytay

While Balay sa Taal give emphasis on nature, designers made sure the townhouses offer the comforts of a five-star hotel. Each three-storey townhouse has wall-to-wall glass windows on all levels, offering an unobstructed view of Taal Lake. The design was indeed clever, made with a large group, or family, in mind.

Each storey has two big rooms, and a huge lounge area, where groups can relax and unwind. The rooms are fully furnished, with individual toilet and bath, and complimentary herbal soap and shampoo. Throw in a cable TV, a DVD player, and a telephone, and one will easily mistake it for a five-star hotel room. The townhouse also has a basement floor, where families can gather for dinner or lunch.

Or for a different dining experience, one can have it arrange for an al fresco meal at the townhouse’s sprawling lawn. We discovered that the unit we were staying in was constructed to appear like it is on edge of a cliff overlooking Taal Lake. The ‘cliff’ however is no more than an elevated garden that one can stand and soak in the fresh air out of the lake.

While time seemed to stand still when you’re in a place like Balay sa Taal, we sadly had to say our goodbyes after the two days of corporate planning for our group.

The good thing however is that Balay sa Taal will always be there when we come back the next time.

Tags: Balay Sa Taal, Tagaytay City Philippines, Taal Volcano Tagaytay, Philippine Travel